Micro advice from those who took it...

Fun2, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2005

The obvious, STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!

Are you taking any other classes? Do you work?

Other tips: Take pics of lab stuff! Look online for different bacteria photos. I only have 1 lab quiz on my site (http://www.nursingjourney.com), but you can search for other pics as well. (different bacteria, different test results, etc.)

Basic knowledge to know: Normal Flora (Bacteria that we have in/on us all the time, Opportunistic Bacteria (can be harmful out of its usual enviroment), Glycolysis = 2 ATP, Krebs cycle/TAC = 2 ATP, & Electron Transport Chain = 34 ATP...after crossing the membrane to the mitochondria 2 ATPs are lost, resulting in 36 ATP for aerobic respiration. (Remember that Aerobic respiration = 36-38 ATP, and is more efficient than anaerobic or fermentation.)

Make charts for the information like the above you are asked to learn. It's easier to see it as a whole, and to study from.

I took it during the summer, and made an A, but it all depends on your study habits and your instructors teaching methods.

The most important advice that I can offer is use your school's tutoring if they offer it!!! Also, answer the questions at the end of each chapter, and turn the chapter objectives into questions, and know the answers.

Good luck! :)

mattsmom64 · Aug 23, 2005

the big thing is to memorize, memorize, memorize, then memorize some more! Invest in a stack of index cards. I would print pictures of the organisms on one side then have facts on the other. Plan on spending at least one hour per day reviewing. I would also copy my notes over the same day after class. Also, utilize the web, there are lots of resources out there....here are a couple of links that may help:

http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/~johnson/labtools.html

http://www.drketi.com/EduLinks.html

http://science.nhmccd.edu/biol/microbio.html

Micro isn't as difficult as it first seems. After the first class and lab I thought that I would never pass. I ended up with an A in the course......One thing I can guarantee you....after taking this course you will look at handwashing in a whole different light lol!

Good luck in class!

:wink2:

I know there is a thread for Micro starting this fall, but I wanted to ask those who just finished it or already took it for advice on getting through successfully. I need an A in micro so Im nervous! Any tips on getting the material down?? I thinking of buying my first voice recorder to record lectures and also getting supplemental biology stuff.
-Jasmine

FNPhopeful · Aug 23, 2005

Ok....so mostly its being able to memorize and identify which bacteria are which? They all look different??? I can do that. So Im assuming these websites you memtioned have alot of pictures, Im still nervous about labs....I am always so lost in labs. Its like the teacher explains it and I look around and everyone already getting started and Im still going huh?? Any advice for the labs as well, for those of us not so articulate?

-Jasmine

Achoo!, LPN · Aug 23, 2005

I invested in a 5 subject notebook and filled the entire thing. I just wrote the info over and over. If you can get the lecture down- categories, what test rule out what, cell structure etc.. you'll be fine. I did it over the summer as well and ended up with over 100%. If you take it seriously you'll be fine. The only ones in my class who did poorly were the slackers who showed up 20 minutes late every day, missed few classes etc.

mattsmom64 · Aug 23, 2005

Jasmine,

Our lecture consisted of the history of Micro, the chemistry behind it, and as well as the various diseases caused by organism. Lab will focus on identification and experimentation. Take a look at some of the links I posted. They are more helpful for lab than lecture. The first link is my school's website. The instructor put it together to help people with lab. Some of the sites that are inside the second link also have some great tutorials for the labs. You'll really need to take your time to look through all of the sites but there is wealth of information there! They show you the equipment used, how to do the procedure, and the results you are looking for. I feel that labwork takes more preparation than lecture. My Micro instructor had us keep a lab notebook. We would do a prelab exercise then would have to write out the objectives, materials needed, and protocols for each experiment BEFORE the actual lab. If you go into lab without reading through and mapping out the experiment for the day you will definitely be lost.....I hope this helps....

Mary

(QUOTE=FNPhopeful]Ok....so mostly its being able to memorize and identify which bacteria are which? They all look different??? I can do that. So Im assuming these websites you memtioned have alot of pictures, Im still nervous about labs....I am always so lost in labs. Its like the teacher explains it and I look around and everyone already getting started and Im still going huh?? Any advice for the labs as well, for those of us not so articulate?

-Jasmine

GrnHonu99, RN · Aug 23, 2005

I know there is a thread for Micro starting this fall, but I wanted to ask those who just finished it or already took it for advice on getting through successfully. I need an A in micro so Im nervous! Any tips on getting the material down?? I thinking of buying my first voice recorder to record lectures and also getting supplemental biology stuff.
-Jasmine

I have powerpoints for all the chapters we covered as well as study guides for that info. If you would like to take a look I can forward them to you. PM me with your email addy.

FNPhopeful · Aug 23, 2005

I have powerpoints for all the chapters we covered as well as study guides for that info. If you would like to take a look I can forward them to you. PM me with your email addy.

yea, totally I'll take all the help I can get, my email is jasminejhill@yahoo

However, the textbook I use probably wont be the same as yours. Where can I download or print out a full page of the microbes (for identification purposes) ?? the sites I have looked at so far have pictures but you have to click on them all individually which makes them hard to print up.

FNPhopeful · Aug 23, 2005

Jasmine,
Our lecture consisted of the history of Micro, the chemistry behind it, and as well as the various diseases caused by organism. Lab will focus on identification and experimentation. Take a look at some of the links I posted. They are more helpful for lab than lecture. The first link is my school's website. The instructor put it together to help people with lab. Some of the sites that are inside the second link also have some great tutorials for the labs. You'll really need to take your time to look through all of the sites but there is wealth of information there! They show you the equipment used, how to do the procedure, and the results you are looking for. I feel that labwork takes more preparation than lecture. My Micro instructor had us keep a lab notebook. We would do a prelab exercise then would have to write out the objectives, materials needed, and protocols for each experiment BEFORE the actual lab. If you go into lab without reading through and mapping out the experiment for the day you will definitely be lost.....I hope this helps....
Mary
(QUOTE=FNPhopeful]Ok....so mostly its being able to memorize and identify which bacteria are which? They all look different??? I can do that. So Im assuming these websites you memtioned have alot of pictures, Im still nervous about labs....I am always so lost in labs. Its like the teacher explains it and I look around and everyone already getting started and Im still going huh?? Any advice for the labs as well, for those of us not so articulate?
-Jasmine

Good info Mattsmom. Doing all that prep before the lab would definitely help.

Would a voice recorder be of any help? does anyone use these??

Fun2, BSN, RN · Aug 23, 2005

I agree. We actually had a quiz everyday in lab over that day's labs. (Since my class was only 8 weeks, we did multiple labs in one night......talk about hectic!!!) lol

At the beginning I said, "God, just let me get a C, and I will be happy!" I was so scared I was going to fail, especially before the first test!!!! I worked my tail off, and I passed my 8 week MicroSUX! class with an A!

In the beginning you may be overwhelmed, but it should get easier, or at least calm down some. lol

FNPhopeful, I used a voice recorder, and actually listened to it when I typed my A&P notes up. In my MicroSUX! class, we were in a lecture hall, which didn't help, but the lady was talked so fast, and not loud at all, so it didn't do me anygood. I even sat up front. Plus, with her accent, I just couldn't understand the lecture when I tried to listen to it, so I stopped recording it.

However, people definitely do use these! Some instructors want you to ask them first though. For that matter, who cares what everyone else does! If it helps you DO IT!!!! (That's what I did....I think I was the only one in MicroSUX that recorded, and/or took pics!)

Good luck! :)

Good info Mattsmom. Doing all that prep before the lab would definitely help.
Would a voice recorder be of any help? does anyone use these??